First Tow Vehicle Suggestions
Hi all, I'm new to the forum. My wife and I have a 17 month old and we are planning to buy a travel trailer this winter. We both have fond memories growing up camping with our own parents and are e...
Forum Discussion
CJ Rezz,
There are many different things to take in account in picking a tow vehicle especially for a first timer. Many of those things have been said already, but many others that come with the experience of learning the hard way. Instead of telling you what to choose, I would rather tell you things to consider when making your decision.
Every vehicle type is different and serve different purposes. What may make it great for one purpose may also hinder its abilities in another. There are many things that make "half ton" SUVs great family haulers due to their comfortable suspension and shorter wheelbase for maneuverability. However, these things turn into a down side when towing. That comfortable suspension will be bouncing up and down on every bump and that short wheel base will make the trailer feel like it is controlling the vehicle. This, as many people who started with vehicles like this can tell you, makes for an exhausting(and scary) towing experience. Instead of arriving at the campsite refreshed and ready for your time away, your nerves are shot and you feel that you have to drink a half a bottle just to calm them. SUVs are also heavier in rear which may help in gaining traction in the snow you are in.
On the flip side to this, a "half ton" truck will not have as comfortable of a ride unloaded due to the stiffer suspension, but it will make a world of difference when loaded. This is of course dependant on the kind of of half ton you get. They are not all made equal. The longer wheel base of the truck will also make for a better tow vehicle with the truck, but will make finding that parking spot a little harder. Although you will get used to the longer wheelbase over time. Trucks are lighter in the rear making them harder to gain traction in snow when unloaded, but can generally carry more weight on its rear axle. This may be a big deal depending on how your trailer is set up if you need to add more weight to the front of the trailer(increasing its tongue weight) to keep it from swaying or if you ever plan on getting a motorbike to take with you and your family.
Another aspect is towing performance especially being that you live on the foothills the Canadian Rockies. The higher up you go, the more power is lost in the engine. Naturally aspirated engines loose about 3% for every 1,000 ft while forced induction engines loose about 1.5% for every 1,000 ft or less depending on the turbos ability to compensate for the thinner air. This could mean the difference of going up that mountain pass doing the speed limit or having to drop down to 30 mph with the engine screaming at 5,000 rpm the whole way. I can tell you from experience that hearing an underpowered engine scream at 5,000 rpm for long periods will make your teeth chatter. Also being stuck behind slow moving traffic without enough power to pass may be very frustrating.
For the most part the same engines found in half ton trucks can also be found in their SUV counterpart so there is no big issue there, but the big difference would be gearing. Most trucks have shorter gears(higher number) in their transmissions and rear axle since their main purpose is towing. Most SUVs are purposely built as family haulers and occasional light tow vehicle so the gear ratios may be taller (smaller number). The gear ratio of a truck can have a huge impact on its towing performance and even fuel economy when towing. Rear gear ratios like 3.73s or 4.10s are ideal for towing which is why they are mainly found in trucks. SUVs will usually have a taller gear ratio like 3.15 or 3.31 are better for fuel economy unloaded. Taller gears may be adequate for your trailer on flat land, but can make a even powerful engine seem like a slug with weight behind it especially when going up grades.
Other things to consider are fuel tank sizes depending how far you plan on towing. Most trucks have larger tanks which allow you to travel further before filling. This may not be a big deal on a short trip, but will became a pain in the *** on long trips when you are getting 9 mpg and have a 17 gallon tank. Most modern trucks will have a trailer brake controller already built into them and have their ESP(electronic stability program) working with the controller in a loss control situation. Most modern trucks (like the 2009+ F150) have a trailer sway control feature that helps you gain control of the truck when the trailer starts to sway(yes, it will sway at one point and can be a down right scary event for first timers). Just about all half ton trucks already come with the class 3 receiver hitch that you will need for the weight you will be towing along with the proper electrical connections while most SUVs may not.
As for other tips, make sure you get a weight distributing hitch and some form of sway control. You will need it either route you go to keep your rear from sagging and for more stability unless you plan on getting a three quarter ton and up. Be sure to load your trailer properly. Too much weight in the rear of the trailer will make it sway the faster you go, and too much in the front will push you. Best of luck picking the right vehicle for you, and hope you have safe and fun camping.
There are many different things to take in account in picking a tow vehicle especially for a first timer. Many of those things have been said already, but many others that come with the experience of learning the hard way. Instead of telling you what to choose, I would rather tell you things to consider when making your decision.
Every vehicle type is different and serve different purposes. What may make it great for one purpose may also hinder its abilities in another. There are many things that make "half ton" SUVs great family haulers due to their comfortable suspension and shorter wheelbase for maneuverability. However, these things turn into a down side when towing. That comfortable suspension will be bouncing up and down on every bump and that short wheel base will make the trailer feel like it is controlling the vehicle. This, as many people who started with vehicles like this can tell you, makes for an exhausting(and scary) towing experience. Instead of arriving at the campsite refreshed and ready for your time away, your nerves are shot and you feel that you have to drink a half a bottle just to calm them. SUVs are also heavier in rear which may help in gaining traction in the snow you are in.
On the flip side to this, a "half ton" truck will not have as comfortable of a ride unloaded due to the stiffer suspension, but it will make a world of difference when loaded. This is of course dependant on the kind of of half ton you get. They are not all made equal. The longer wheel base of the truck will also make for a better tow vehicle with the truck, but will make finding that parking spot a little harder. Although you will get used to the longer wheelbase over time. Trucks are lighter in the rear making them harder to gain traction in snow when unloaded, but can generally carry more weight on its rear axle. This may be a big deal depending on how your trailer is set up if you need to add more weight to the front of the trailer(increasing its tongue weight) to keep it from swaying or if you ever plan on getting a motorbike to take with you and your family.
Another aspect is towing performance especially being that you live on the foothills the Canadian Rockies. The higher up you go, the more power is lost in the engine. Naturally aspirated engines loose about 3% for every 1,000 ft while forced induction engines loose about 1.5% for every 1,000 ft or less depending on the turbos ability to compensate for the thinner air. This could mean the difference of going up that mountain pass doing the speed limit or having to drop down to 30 mph with the engine screaming at 5,000 rpm the whole way. I can tell you from experience that hearing an underpowered engine scream at 5,000 rpm for long periods will make your teeth chatter. Also being stuck behind slow moving traffic without enough power to pass may be very frustrating.
For the most part the same engines found in half ton trucks can also be found in their SUV counterpart so there is no big issue there, but the big difference would be gearing. Most trucks have shorter gears(higher number) in their transmissions and rear axle since their main purpose is towing. Most SUVs are purposely built as family haulers and occasional light tow vehicle so the gear ratios may be taller (smaller number). The gear ratio of a truck can have a huge impact on its towing performance and even fuel economy when towing. Rear gear ratios like 3.73s or 4.10s are ideal for towing which is why they are mainly found in trucks. SUVs will usually have a taller gear ratio like 3.15 or 3.31 are better for fuel economy unloaded. Taller gears may be adequate for your trailer on flat land, but can make a even powerful engine seem like a slug with weight behind it especially when going up grades.
Other things to consider are fuel tank sizes depending how far you plan on towing. Most trucks have larger tanks which allow you to travel further before filling. This may not be a big deal on a short trip, but will became a pain in the *** on long trips when you are getting 9 mpg and have a 17 gallon tank. Most modern trucks will have a trailer brake controller already built into them and have their ESP(electronic stability program) working with the controller in a loss control situation. Most modern trucks (like the 2009+ F150) have a trailer sway control feature that helps you gain control of the truck when the trailer starts to sway(yes, it will sway at one point and can be a down right scary event for first timers). Just about all half ton trucks already come with the class 3 receiver hitch that you will need for the weight you will be towing along with the proper electrical connections while most SUVs may not.
As for other tips, make sure you get a weight distributing hitch and some form of sway control. You will need it either route you go to keep your rear from sagging and for more stability unless you plan on getting a three quarter ton and up. Be sure to load your trailer properly. Too much weight in the rear of the trailer will make it sway the faster you go, and too much in the front will push you. Best of luck picking the right vehicle for you, and hope you have safe and fun camping.
